Spiritualized | SONGS IN A&E | CD

Composer: J. Spaceman.
Personnel: Simon Hill , Rupert Clervaux, Ben Crook, Kim Gehrig, Sarah Evans, Poppy Spaceman, Claire Luke, Rachel Korine, Sarah McCrory, Sian Ahern, Nomvula Malinga, Ko Melina Zydeco, Troy Gregory, Sharlene Hector, Mick Collins (vocals); Tony Foster (guitar, acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, Fender Rhodes piano); Kevin Bales (guitar, snare drum); John Coxon, Barrie Cadogan (guitar); Nicola Sweeney, Ian Rathbone (violin); Tony Woollard (cello); Mary Owen (flute); Alexis Barrow (accordion); Tom Edwards (melodica, Fender Rhodes piano, reed organ, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, timpani, tubular bells, percussion); Sarah Temple (clarinet); Dave Temple (saxophone); Ben Edwards (trumpet); Johnny Morocombe (French horn); James Adams (trombone); Tim Lewis (piano, Farfisa, synthesizer).
Audio Mixer: Tim Holmes.
Recording information: The Cedars, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.
Photographers: John Ross ; Juliette Larthe.
Arranger: J. Spaceman.
The sixth studio album from Spiritualized continues to refine the outfit's structurally simple yet highly textured space rock. On SONGS IN A & E listeners can still hear the influence of the minimal, noisy art-rock of the Velvet Underground and the guitar-rich sonic-scapes of My Bloody Valentine, but there's also a directness here that might surprise the listener.
In songs like "Soul on Fire" and "Sweet Talk," lead singer-songwriter Jason Pierce achieves an honest simplicity that is powerful and poignant, qualities underscored by the album's arrangements, which feature gospel singers, a string section, Fender Rhodes, and acoustic guitar. To be sure, there's a fair bit of the heady ambient wash associated with this band, but the sound isn't generated by layers of feedback or effects but by Pierce's soaring melodies and the unique instrumentation.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop
• Released: 5/27/2008
• Released: 05/27/2008